Vacuum cleaner



@ma A. A. FQRSEEG ww VACUUM CLEANER Filed March 30, 1932 2 Sxeeis-SheeI 2 aq /37 0 37 L. x I

k Je n o lo o 55 f o a @2% e W 5a @gj/7g3 ,9 Kg o 9 VV l 'a [V' e z 3l, H 3/ IW W T /H/ 37 gf 0 n o 49 /19 48 g l f/ 39 i 5^ |||1| 30 INVENTOR /2/6 ATTORNEY Paienrea oci. a1, 1933 I .1,933,105 l v VACUUM CLEANER Axel Albert Forsberg, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware 2 Application March 30, 1932, Serial No. 601,997,

and in Germany June 3, 1931 20 Claims. (Cl. 183-58) This invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and a shield 18 which is spaced therefrom to provide more particularly to dust separators for vacuum an air passage'for the main air current of the cleaners of relatively large size. cleaner. A central air tube 19 is mounted within An object of the invention is to provide mechasaid dust collector, axially thereof, and is pronism for effectively cleaning a dust separator vided with an enlarged section 20 which is adapt- 60 Without removing the same from the,` vacuum ed to pass over the shield 18. A roll packing 24 cleaner. may be provided between section 20 and shield The invention provides a dust separator which 18 to form an air and dust seal and to permit is mounted for limited shaking movement withthe' dust collector, including tube `19 and section in the casing of the vacuum cleaner. The dust 20, to be readily removed without exposing the 05 separator is held in normal or `operating position motor. Frame 12 may be mounted on wheels 21 by resilient means which ls arranged to provide by which the entire `cleaner is supported for a quick snap-action return of the dust separator movement over a surface, such as the floor. to its original position, whereby the maximum A removable cover 22 is supported on dust colshaking force and the maximum compression of lector 10 and is connected thereto by suitable 70 air between the dust separator and the casing means, such as locking members 23 which may is obtained. Various other objects and features be carried on said cover and engage a suitable of the invention will be apparent from the folflange on said dust collector. lowing description taken in connection with the A suction opening 25 is formed in the dust accompanying drawings forming part of this collector l0v and is adapted to receive a suction 75 specification, of which: hose. Discharge chamber 15 may be provided Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a with a blower opening 26 which is similarly arvacuum cleaner embodying the present invenranged to receive an air hose. A handle 27 is tion; mounted on cover 22 and may be secured thereto Figs. 2 to 5 are sectional detail views showing by'spacing members 28, which are suiilciently 80 various positions of the operating mechanism; rigid in construction to permit the entire cleaner Fig. 6 is a sectional view online 6-6 of Fig. 4 to be moved thereby. showing a spring for maintaining certain catches Mounted within cover 22 is a cloth` dust sepa.- in operating position; and rator which is preferably of frustro-conical 30 Fig. 7 is a view looking upwardly into the cover form and is folded back upon itself into zig-zag 85 of the vacuum cleaner with the dust separator form. The inner edge of the cloth is carried on removed. an annular member 31 which slidably engages a In the various gures of the drawings, similar support 32. Said support is secured as by rivets parts are designated by like reference characters. 33 to a vbracket 34 which is carried by cover 22 35 In the following description and in the claims, and is connected thereto as by bolts 35 which 90 the various generic terms are employed for purengage spacing members 28. A roll packing 36 poses of illustration, but it is to be understood may be provided between tube 19 and annular that they are to be given as broad an interpremember 31 to provide an air and dust seal theretation as the state of the art will permit. between, and also to provide a readily separable 40 Referring to the drawings more in detail, the connection for said annular member 31. 95 invention is shown as particularly applied to a The outer edge of the cloth of the dust sepavacuum cleaner of the vertical type having a rator 30 is secured to a ring 43 which is provided dust collector l0 which may be made of metal with alateral flange 44 having a packingmember or other air impermeable material, and is so arof lrubber or other elastic material secured` 45 ranged as to be readily removable from the lower thereon. Said packing member 45 is adaptedto 100 frame member 12. A motor ll mounted in a seat in a ring-shaped flange or oiset 46 of cover housing 13 having heat radiating fins 14, is sup-` 22 and is secured between said flange and the ported on said frame 12 centrally of and coaxiupper part of the dust collector 10. The cloth ally with said dust collector. A plurality of cenmay be secured to annular member 31 and ring 50 trifugal fan members 17 are mounted on the mo- 43 of the dust separator by any suitable means 105 tor shaft for drawing air over said housing 13 such as string or theilike. and discharging the same through a discharge The cover is provided with a central depression chamber 15 from which air may be discharged 37 in which is slidably mounted a rod 38. The through a plurality of louvres 16. lower end of said rod passes through an opening Motor 11 and housing 13 may be enclosed in 39 in bracket 34 and in member 32. A disc-like 110 lso pressure button 40 is carried on the upper end of rod 38 and is adapted to enter said central depression 37 in cover 22.

Rod 38 carries a fiange 48 which is releasably engageable by latches 49. A spring 50 is seated between flange 48 and a cup 51 mounted on bracket 34 and normally holds rod 38 and pressure button or cap 40 in raised position. Latches 49 are pivotaily secured to a cross member 52 slidably mounted on spindle 38 and are held in engagement with flange 48 by spring 53 (Fig. 6)

Said latches are tapered to engage the upperv outside edge of cup 51 and to provide a cam surface by which said latches are separated and released from flange 48 when they are pressed downwardly into engagement with said cup as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Cross member 52 is held in its upper position by spring 55 which is seated between said cross member and said bracket 34. Cross member 52 carries a pair of annular members 56 having flanges 57 which form annular recesses for receiving the folds of filter 30. Said folds are secured in flanges 57 by split retaining rings 58 which may be collapsed and inserted therein and then expanded to bring their ends into engagement and thereby locked in position to firmly clamp the dust separator 30 in place.

Cover 22 also carries stationary ring 60, supported by brackets 6l, which are secured to said cover as by bolts 35 which engage spacing members 28. Ring 60 supports one of the lower folds of dust separation member 30 and assists in maintaining the dust separation member in expanded position. Y

In the above described apparatus, the dust separation member 30 is normally heidi-under tension between rings 56, 60 and 43 and annular member 31, rings 55 being held in their upper position by the action of spring 55 on cross member 52. When the operator pushes downwardly on cap 40, control rod 38 is depressed, thereby depressing cross member 52 and rings 56 and relieving the tension on the dust separating cloth. When the rod reaches its lower position, latches 49 contact cup 51 and are thereby separated and released from flange 48, whereupon cross member 52 is immediately and forcibly snapped back to its original or normal position by the action of spring 55. Cap 40 may then be released and rod 38 will be returned to its original position by the action of spring 50, flange 48 sliding over the cam surface of latches 49 and again becoming engaged thereby.

By the above described action, the upper separator supports are lowered and the air space within the chamber in the cover 22 and the dust separator is increased in size. When the cloth is forcibly returned to its original position, a severe shaking action is obtained and a marked compression of air within said chamber is also obtained, which forces an air current through the cloth in a downward direction, and assists in removing the accumulation of materials from the surface thereof. It is to be noted that the rapidity of the return movement of the cross member 52 and the cloth associated therewith, is entirely independent of the return movement of cap 40 and is accordingly not dependent on the skill of the operator.

When the dust separator is intermittently cleaned by the above described means, the vacuum cleaner may be operated for indefinite periods of time without requiring replacement of the dust separator, the operation being interrupted when necessary to remove-the cover and empty the dust container.

It is kto be noted that when the cover is thus removed, the tension of the cloth serves to maintain annular member 31 and ring 44 in position against support 32 and against cover 22, respectively.

Although certain preferred forms of the in- *vention have been illustrated for purposes of disclosure, it is obvious that various substitutions and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the broader aspects of the invention, which is to be limited only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

What I`claim is:

1. In combination, a dust separator, a movable support therefor, resilient means for normally maintaining said dust separator in normal position, control means associated with said resilient means for moving said support out of its normal position, means associated with said control means for releasing said support, whereby said support is returned to its normal position by the action of said resilient means, and separate resilient means for returning said control means to normal position.

2. In combination with a dust separator, a movable support therefor, resilient means for normally maintaining said support in normal position, a manual control member for moving said support, means operable when said support is moved out of its normalposition for releasing the same from said control member, whereby said support is returned to its normal position by the action of said resilient means independently of said manual control member, and separate resilient means for returning said control means to normal position.

3. In combination with a dust separator, a movable support therefor, a slidable member, releasable means interengaging said support with said slidable member wherebymovement of said slidable member causes movement of said support, means operable upon movement of said slidable member for releasing said rst means, and resilient means for returning said support to its original position.

4. In combination with a dust separator, a movable support therefor, a control member associated with said support, independent means for maintaining said support and said control member in normal position, means normally interconnecting said support and said control member and means operable upon actuation of said control member for releasing said interconnecting means whereby said support is returned to normal position independently of said control member.

5. In combination with a dust separator, a movable support therefor, a control member associated with said support, independent means for maintaining said support and said control member in normal position, means normally interengaging said support with said control member, and means operable upon actuation of said control member for releasing said interen'gaging means whereby said support is returned to normal position independently of said control member, and means for reengaging said interengaging means when said control member is returned to operating position.

6. In combination, a dust separator, a movable support therefor, resilient means for normally maintaining said dust separator in a given position, control means, a latch normally interengaging said support with said control means, and cam means for releasing said latch operable in response to a given movement of said control means.

'7. In combination, a dust separator, a movable support therefor, a control member for moving said support having a flange, latch members carried by said support and engagingsaid flange whereby said support and said control member may be moved as aunit, said latch members having cam surfaces, means acting upon movement of said control member to engage said cam surfaces and release said latch members from said flange, and resilient means for forcibly returning said support to its original position whereby a sudden shaking of said dust separator is obtained.

' 8. In combination, a dust separator, a movable support therefor, a control member for moving said support having a flange, latch members carried by said support and engaging said flange whereby said support and said control member may be moved as a unit, said latch members having cam surfaces, means acting upon movement of said control member to engage said cam surfaces and release said latch members from said fiange, resilient means for forcibly returning said support to its original position whereby a sudden shaking of said dust separator is obtained, and means causing said latches to reengage said iiange when said control member is returned to its original position.

9. In combination with a dust separator, a movable support therefor, resilient means for maintaining said support in normal position, a slidable rod associated withsaid support, latch mechanism interengaging said rod with said support, and means operable when said support is moved out of its normal position for releasing said latch mechanism whereby said support may be returned by the action of said resilient means independently of said rod.

10. In combination with a dust separator, a movable support therefor, resilient means for maintaining said support in normal position, a slidable rod associated with said support, latch mechanism interengaging said rod with said support, means operable when said support is moved out of its normal position for releasing said latch mechanism whereby said support may be returned by the action of said resilient means independently of said rod, and means for reengaging said latch mechanism when said rod is returned to its normal position.

11. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, a dust separator mounted therein and forming an air chamber, a movable support for said dust separator, a control member extending through said casing and normally in operative connection with said support, means operable-upon given movement of said control member for releasing said support therefrom, and means for forcibly returning said support independently of said control member.

12. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing, a dust separator mounted therein and forming an air chamber with a portion of said casing, a control member for causing movement of said dust separatorwith respect to said casing to enlarge said air chamber, and meansfor automatically releasing said dust separator lfrom said control member and causing a rapid return of said dust separator for compressing air within said cham ber whereby a counter-current of air is caused to flow` through said dust separator for cleaning purposes.

13. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing and a cover mounted thereon. a dust separator mounted within said cover and forming an air chamber therein, a control member for causing movement of said dust separator with respect to said cover to enlarge said air chamber, and means for releasing said dust separator from said control member and rapidly returning said dust separator to its original position for compressing the air in said chamber and causing said air to pass through said dust separator for cleaning purposes.

14. In a vacuum cleaner of the vertical type, a dust collector, a cover therefor, a dust separator supported within said cover and adapted normally to be traversed by an upward'air current, a movable support for said dust separator, control means for depressing said dust separator with respect to said cover, means for releasing said support from said control means, and means for forcibly returning said dust separator to its original position independently of said control means whereby air is compressed between said dust separator and said cover and is caused to pass downwardly through said dust separator for cleaning purposes.A

15. In a4 vacuum cleaner of the vertical type, a casing, a cover secured to said casing, a dust separator mounted within said cover and bent back upon itself intozig-zag form, said' dust separator having a plurality of upper and lower supporting points, stationary means for mounting said lower points with respect to said cover, a movable support for said upper points, and means for normally maintaining said upper movable support in elevated position, a slidable rod extending through said cover, releasable means interengaging said rod with said movable support, and means operable when said rod is depressed to release said releasable means whereby said movable support is returned to its original position independently of said rod.

16. In a vacuum cleaner, a vertical casing forming a dust chamber, an air tube located centrally therein, a cover associated in said casing, a dust separator mounted in said cover, said dust separator comprising an outer ring clamped between said cover and said casing and an inner annular member engaging said central tube and cloth attached to said rings, a movable dust separator support mounted on said "cover, resilient means associated with said support for normally holding said dust separator under tension, a slidable rod extending through said cover and engaging said support for releasing said tension, and means for releasing said rod from said support whereby said support is returned to its original position independently of said rod.

17. In avacuum cleaner, a casing. a zigzag dust separation member mounted therein and providing a dust collecting space on one side thereof and an air chamber onnthe other side thereof, means for supplying dust-laden air to said dust collecting space, means for withdrawing air from said air chamber, manual means for moving alternate` bends of said dust separation member in a given direction to decrease'the dust collecting and means operable upon movement of said manual means in said given direction to release said spring means.v

18. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, a dust separation member mounted therein and providing a dust collecting space on one side thereof and an air chamber on the other side thereof, means for supplying dust-laden air to said dustl .collecting space, means for withdrawing air from said air chamber, means for manually moving said dust separation member to decrease the dust collecting space and increase the size of the air chamber, and means including a latch and a spring adapted to be released to return said dust separation member lto decrease the size of the air chamber and cause iiow of air from the air chamber to the dust collecting chamber to shake and blow dust oi the dust separation member.

19. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, a zigzag dust separation member mounted therein and providing a dust collecting space on one side thereof and an air chamber on the other side thereof, means for supplying dust-laden air to said dust collecting space, means for withdrawing air from said air chamber, means for manually moving alternate bends of said dust separation member shake and blow dust off the dust separation member.

20. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, a dust separation member mounted therein and providing a dust collecting space on one side thereof and an air chamber on the other side thereof, means for supplying dust-laden air to said dust collecting space, means for withdrawing air from said air chamber, manual means for moving said dust separation member in a given direction to decrease the dust collecting space and increase the size of the air chamber, spring means adapted to be released to return said dust separation member to decrease the size of the air chamber and cause flow of air from the air chamber to the dust collecting chamber to shake and blow dust oil the dust separation member, and means operable upon movement of said manual means in said given direction to release said spring means.

AXEL ALBERT FORSBERG.

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